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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Kia Rio Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2001 Kia Rio has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 223 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Kia Rio, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2001 Kia Rio owner complaints

Owners have filed 223 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Kia Rio, describing incidents dated August 29, 2000 to January 12, 2017.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 52 complaints
  • Air Bags 33 complaints
  • Wheels 31 complaints
  • Electrical System 25 complaints
  • Power Train 25 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 24 complaints

Of the 223 complaints on file, 21 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 223 complaints, owners report 12 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10945096 · Filed

    DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH FRONT DOORS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION.

  • ODI #10554083 · Filed

    PARKED CAR AT WORK CAME BACK OUT AND THE DOOR LOCK WAS DOWN TRIED TO PULL UP BUT IS STUCK OR CAUGHT ON SOMETHING. THE WAY THE SCREWS ARE IN THE DOOR 2 OF THEM CANNOT BE TAKEN OUT WITHOUT HAVING THE DOOR OPEN. WITH LONG LEGS ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE!!! ALSO TROUBLE WITH THE…

  • ODI #10545123 · Filed

    IT IS DIFFICULT TO ENTER THE CAR WITH THE KEY AND WHEN I PULL THE DOOR HANDLE THE LOCK DROPS DOWN TO THE CLOSE POSITION AND I CAN'T GET OUT THIS HAPPENS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE,I HAVE TO HOLD THE LOCK ON THE UP POSITION WITH A PIECE OF METAL OR LEAVE THE REAR DOORS UNLOCKED…

Read all 223 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 Kia Rio in 6 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

1 more NHTSA investigation
Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

STEEL WHEELS

NHTSA #05V159000 · Wheels · NHTSA notice

Reported April 20, 2005 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 24,119 vehicles

Kia campaign SC046 · Owners notified June 22, 2005 · Vehicles built May 12, 2000 – October 17, 2000 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE WHEELS TO CRACK UNDER LONG TERM DRIVING FATIGUE. IF CRACKS OCCUR, WHEEL NOISE AND VIBRATION WILL RESULT AND BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME.

Safety consequence

IF THE CRACK IS SEVERE, THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC046.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

KIA/FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #04V179000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery · NHTSA notice

Reported April 9, 2004 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 187,790 vehicles

Kia campaign SC036 · Owners notified June 18, 2004 · Vehicles built May 4, 2000 – March 31, 2004 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE OF THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE OR CRACKING DURING REMOVAL OF THE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING SECURING THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE, OR WHEN FORCE IS ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED TO THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OR DURING ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPAIRS.

Safety consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC036.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

KIA/FUEL LEAKAGE

NHTSA #03V352000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported September 24, 2003 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 57,340 vehicles

Vehicles built May 4, 2000 – June 1, 2001 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUEL LEAKS MAY DEVELOP AT THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF QUALITY DEVIATIONS.

Safety consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND FUEL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Kia Rio model years

Check your 2001 Kia Rio VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Rio at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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